July 19, 2005Pilot still missing after Super Hornets collideBy Christopher MunseyTimes staff writerThe pilot of an F/A-18E Super Hornet involved in a mid-air collision with a second Super Hornet on July 18 over China Lake Naval Weapons Station, Calif., is still missing, a Navy spokesman said.The two aircraft collided while practicing air combat maneuvers at around 11:29 a.m. local time about 35 nautical miles northeast of Ridgecrest, Calif., said Dennis McGrath, a spokesman for Naval Air Station Lemoore.The two crew members of the two-seater F/A-18F Super Hornet, Lt. Noel Sawatzky, pilot, and Lt. John Bonenfant, weapons systems officer, were found by rescuers and taken to Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield, Calif.Sawatzky and Bonenfant were both listed in fair condition July 19, McGrath said.Both aircraft belonged to Fleet Readiness Squadron 122, out of NAS Lemoore, one of two Super Hornet training squadrons.While not a member of the squadron, Sawatzky is transitioning to an instructor position at the Strike Fighter Weapons School at Lemoore, McGrath said.The wreckage of both aircraft has been found, and Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force searchers were looking across a remote, rugged area looking for any signs of the missing pilot.VFA 122 is continuing with training flights, McGrath said.
Missing Naval Aviator Died in Super Hornet CrashStory Number: NNS050721-01Release Date: 7/21/2005 9:30:00 AMTop News Story - Editors should consider using these stories first in local publications.From Commander, Strike Fighter Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet Public AffairsNAVAL AIR STATION LEMOORE, Calif. (NNS) -- Two Super Hornets based at Naval Air Station Lemoore experienced a mid-air collision while on a routine training mission July 18, killing one naval aviator and injuring two.Lt. Bruce L. Clark of Orange Park, Fla., 31, died in the incident.Lt. Noel Sawatzky and Lt. John Bonenfant were recovered by search and rescue crews July 18; they are currently in the Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield, Calif., and were reported in fair condition.The mishap occurred in a remote training area about 35 nautical miles northeast of Ridgecrest, Calif., over Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake.The aircraft involved were an F/A-18E (single seat) and an F/A-18F (two seat) Super Hornet from Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 122. No live ordnance was aboard.The cause of the incident is under investigation.
